Oscar Nominated DC Actor Djimon Hounsou Says He’s ‘Definitely Underpaid’
has appeared in a score of Hollywood movies and TV shows since 1990, including Gladiator (2000), Eragon (2006), and Furious 7 (2015). He has also portrayed multiple characters in several, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Aquaman, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. However, Hounsou disclosed in a recent interview that he was still struggling financially and was “definitely underpaid.”
Djimon Hounsou received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, for In America (2004) and Blood Diamond (2007).
Despite that, and the actor’s prolific presence on both small and big screens over the years, he claimed that he experienced financial issues, during an interview with CNN’s African Voices Changemakers.
When asked how Hollywood had changed in terms of African representation between when he started and now, Hounsou said, “Oh, yes, quite a bit has changed, I must say. Because when I came out with Amistad [in which he portrayed Sengbe Pieh / Joseph Cinqué), I was nominated for a Golden Globe. But they ignored me for the Oscars. Talking about the fact that they thought I had just come off the boat and off the streets, where Steven Spielberg used me for this film.”
The Rebel Moon actor claimed that even though he successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like he was an actor they should pay any respect to.” Hounsou stated that the idea of diversity had a long way to go in Hollywood. He added, “Systematic racism doesn’t change like that anytime soon.”
Djimon Hounsou further revealed that he was “still struggling to make a living” despite “making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films.” He continued, “I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.”
When the interviewer expressed his surprise, Hounsou stated, “Well, that’s a sign for you that systematic racism is not something that you can deal with lightly.” The Black Adam star noted that systemic racism was so “inserted” in so
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